Firework stands open for sale in Utah, safety urged ahead of July 4th

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4) — Tuesday was the day firework stands opened for sale in Utah as Utahns prepare for summer celebrations. This signals the start of an exciting, but potentially dangerous, holiday season.

“My concern is how dry it’s been this year. We haven’t had that much rain,” West Jordan resident Bobby Baena said.

Baena is being careful this Fourth of July.

“It’s a concern with kids, and we only want them around sparklers, we don’t want them around anything that will shoot out,” Baena said. 

He is setting himself and his family up for success while also aiming to keep them safe.

“We have one designated person to light the fireworks that way there’s not a bunch of people around,” Baena said.

Other Utahns are following suit.

“We make sure we have water nearby, and all the kids have to wear shoes,” West Jordan resident Sharise Steggell said.

“We keep a bucket of water close by and stuff and we don’t let kids next to the fireworks, and we put our fireworks in an open parking lot,” Taylorsville resident Jesus Munguia said.

Unified Fire Department said that they are ready to increase personnel and prepping more rigs. 

“We go on a lot of dumpster fires, a lot of garbage fires every holiday that people use fireworks, and that’s because people don’t typically put them out,” Unified Fire Department Public Information Officer Kelly Bird said.

Fireworks in Utah are available for sale starting Tuesday and continuing through next month. 

“I think it comes down to common sense: don’t shoot off things when it’s windy and just be aware of your surroundings,” Steggell said.

The time you can legally light off fireworks in Utah is from July 2 to July 5, from 11 am to 11 pm, and then on holidays, the time extends to midnight.